Mother and Baby Bonding

08 May 2021

The bond between a mother and her baby begins in the womb when the mother is confirmed pregnant. Besides it being a sign of loving her child, bonding also occurs in many forms including nutrition, hormones and emotions that are channeled to the baby. 

“When a pregnancy enters its second trimester, the baby in the womb is beginning to hear and show reactions through movement. There are babies who react after the mother eats, talks or when she moves actively. This clearly shows the bonding between mother and child, in addition to showing that the pregnancy is normal," said Sunway Medical Centre Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Dr Sharmina Kamal Shamsul Kamal. 

Expectant mothers are advised to take care of their emotions as it can affect the bond between them and their baby. Dr Sharmina's advice is to reduce stress and to get enough sleep and rest. 

"More than 80% of women are diagnosed with postpartum blues, a condition that can last up to 4 weeks. This stress occurs due to many factors and among them is caused by tiredness and pain after giving birth, worrying about not being able to breastfeed and lack of breast milk, and worrying about the condition of her other childre, amongst others. A good family support system can help avoid this, and encourage bonding between mother and baby," she said. 

Breastfeeding the most natural process to strengthen the emotional and psychological relationship between mother and child. However, many mother fail to breastfeed their babies as they are not well prepared, said Sunway Medical Centre Consultant Paediatrician and Neonatologist, Dr Cheong Shu Meng. 

Expectant mothers can prepare themselves mentally and physically through many antenatal classes provided by hospitals, self learning and from those who are experienced. These methods will allow mothers to learn the correct ways to breastfeed, how to produce milk and understand the importance and nutritional benefits of breast milk. 

“Apart from breastfeeding, baby massage and Kangaroo Mother Care can also strengthen the relationship between mother and baby," Dr Cheong said. 

Source: Berita Harian

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